Modern Buddy

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 3:59 pm

OK, I found this neat solution but I am totaly not into electrical stuff so can someone here take a look at this site and see if we can get some kind of idea how to do this in human language without me killling my elderly and still functional IPAQ's?
http://rolfje.wordpress.com/2007/06/25/ ... ification/

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:23 pm

This is probably not for the faint of heart, as it means surgery on both an old iPaq as an audio jack donor and a TomTom GPS as the organ recipient. If ypur iPaq still works, it's probably not too wise to go inside and unsolder its 3.5mm earphone jack, then go inside the TomTom and graft the jack onto its speaker wires. You might end up compromising both devices.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 6:42 pm

Then how about something like this?
http://www.buy.com/prod/mini-usb-5-pin- ... 23778.html

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:21 pm

Aw, Storm, I'm afraid not. That particular adapter is for getting audio from a few selected iPaq models out through the USB for models that don't have an audio jack. Wouldn't do much good to plug it into your GPS.

However, if You had a stubby wire with a 3.5mm jack on the end, you could solder the other end with the resistors to your GPS's speaker wires, thus doing surgery on only one device rather than two. The jack would need to hang out the back, though, which ain't pretty.

You can probably get a headphone extension cable cheaply at Radio Shack or any electronics store if you want to go this route.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sat Jun 04, 2011 9:32 pm

Oh well....guess I better save up for another GPS (if there is one) that has earphone jack already.
Thanks, Pete.

tunseeker1 · Post by **tunseeker1** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 4:38 pm

I tend to just ride but I have a gps in my trunk and an iPhone with maps.

I had a gps mounted on the windshield bracket showing the dashboard that had speed and trip odometer on it.

It worked great and can help you go exploring on the scoot. Printing out directions is nice if you know where you are going, gps is nice for exploring and you can save interesting locations you find when you are riding.

That said, the turn by turn voice on my gps was almost useless, I used it on the side of the road more then while riding.

On iPhone the speedometer app works great with the phone in the cupholder.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sun Jun 05, 2011 7:45 pm

On second and 3rd though, I just recalled that I am a queen of cheap and therefore I used my brain some more and started thinking what if I tape this
http://www.harborfreight.com/personal-s ... 1b2166becc
or something like it to where the speaker is on my GPS and just use one ear bud to hear directions (the other is for the phone ear bud in case someone calls/aka mom).
Those things are build to filter out noises If GPS and the amplifier mic are encased in something together this just might work. Not perfect but....

DubSea Scoots · Post by **DubSea Scoots** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:40 am

cdwise wrote:We've got a Garmin Zumo but the screen is cracked and I haven't gotten around to having it repaird so I tend to use one of these http://www.amazon.com/Arkon-GPS032-Smar ... 772&sr=8-1 either with the Garmin we have for the car or my iPhone runing MotionX.

For most of my riding I don't bother but after a wrong turn cost me a 75 mile detour one time if I'm going someplace specific and I don't already know how to get there I'll use a GPS.

What I really like those is to go out take whatever road up in the woods that look good. Then when I'm ready to go home reach under the seat and grap the GPS, push the home button and smile.

Stupid question here... How did you mount this? I love this case, but don't know where to put it on my Buddy.

peabody99 · Post by **peabody99** » Mon Aug 22, 2011 2:45 am

tunseeker1 wrote:
On iPhone the speedometer app works great with the phone in the cupholder.

I lost a brand new phone (a few years ago), by putting it in the cup holder. I even would put a folded up hand towel over it to further hold it down. I was actually riding on a very smooth road when I lost it. I never put anything I can't afford to lose in there.

cdwise · Post by **cdwise** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 2:36 pm

peabody99 wrote:
tunseeker1 wrote:
On iPhone the speedometer app works great with the phone in the cupholder.
I lost a brand new phone (a few years ago), by putting it in the cup holder. I even would put a folded up hand towel over it to further hold it down. I was actually riding on a very smooth road when I lost it. I never put anything I can't afford to lose in there.

I use a rammount adapter to put it on the mirror stem http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults ... fault.aspx

siobhan · Post by **siobhan** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:06 pm

cdwise wrote: I use a rammount adapter to put it on the mirror stem http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults ... fault.aspx

I want to switch out the Bud's mirrors with the mirrors from my DRZ which can attach with a ram mount. But, I can't find a reverse-threaded ball for the right side, and the handlebars are too large for the "U" style. How do the ones you linked to connect? Could you ever take a picture? Thanks in advance!

PeteH · Post by **PeteH** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 4:33 pm

Sounds like you're looking for the ball end that screws directly into the mirror socket. Instead, check out the RAM-B-180U:

The RAM-B-180U includes the upper diamond plate, middle arm piece, and the bottom ball with a 9mm hole. You unscrew your mirror (or windshield mount, etc.), put it through the hole, and screw it back down. Left or right, makes no difference. I'm sure RAM sells this ball/mirror mount separately, in case you have more than one vehicle.

Edit: the ball alone is the RAM-B-272U:

cdwise · Post by **cdwise** » Tue Aug 23, 2011 11:01 pm

I don't have a mount on the Buddy right now but here's the one on my Vespa (ram mount) and on my Scarabeo (the water resistent case I referenced earlier's ball mount).

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:04 am

Found a used cheap older unit that is waterproof, does turn by turn with street names, and has an earphone jack. Will post a review once it arrives and I test it.

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sat Oct 01, 2011 2:23 am

Got the unit, Seems to do decent job for local travel. Earphone jack is exactly what I was looking for. some folks found cheap mounting solutions
for their car units
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lO0pxeYJD6Q" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

but the biggest issue is always not being able to hear the instructions. No such problem with this unit if earphone is hooked up, I think I am going to try this guy;s solution and see if it would work for me before I spend any more money on expensive mounts. I also will use Velcro for a hood to reduce glare.
While I was trying to get info on updating maps for this unit I learned quite a lot about it. Turns our it is running Windows CE and with a little heck the explorer can be accessed. From what I am seeing folks made the GPS unit perform like a Pocket PC.

mia_mali · Post by **mia_mali** » Sat Oct 08, 2011 7:17 am

easy wrote:I just tape them to back of my windshield

One of my coworkers plays Hermione Granger there!

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Sun Oct 09, 2011 9:07 pm

Well, it is not perfect but here it is:

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 5:14 am

PeteH wrote:Sounds like you're looking for the ball end that screws directly into the mirror socket. Instead, check out the RAM-B-180U:

The RAM-B-180U includes the upper diamond plate, middle arm piece, and the bottom ball with a 9mm hole. You unscrew your mirror (or windshield mount, etc.), put it through the hole, and screw it back down. Left or right, makes no difference. I'm sure RAM sells this ball/mirror mount separately, in case you have more than one vehicle.

I just wanted to add to the discussion: THANK YOU for pointing out this part- I have a TomTom One already, and I've order this arm and the cradle for my GPS. Should be here next week sometime, and I'm excited to see how well it fits on, and how well I can see my TomTom. I'll post pics

http://www.ram-mount.com/CatalogResults ... fault.aspx

michelle_7728 · Post by **michelle_7728** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 6:55 am

BootScootin'FireFighter wrote:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vurrrp691/5792942405/" title="CIMG0644 by Vurrrp691, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3551/579 ... f65035.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="CIMG0644"></a>

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/vurrrp691/5792941871/" title="CIMG0643 by Vurrrp691, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5025/579 ... 9eb1e3.jpg" width="500" height="374" alt="CIMG0643"></a>

So I just saw your pictures...what is your bar map clipped to? I like the idea...

Stormswift · Post by **Stormswift** » Mon Oct 10, 2011 10:39 pm

Just got home from work., tested GPS and it's container on the way. Everything works, volume is pretty good via button style earphones ( I have an old set with volume control). I plug just one in my ear. It is sufficient. Will have to get Velcro and do detachable hoodie to improve visibility Might even splurge on Velcro wraps for each side to make sure the box does not open. I am such a big spender!!!

heatherkay · Post by **heatherkay** » Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:59 am

I don't think the bar map is clipped to anything. It looks like he just has the lanyard cinched around the steering column

DanteG · Post by **DanteG** » Tue Oct 25, 2011 12:36 pm

If you can find an old Garmin 2820, they are fantastic ! Bluetooth, waterproof, big buttons meant to be used by a gloved hand, and designed to resist vibration. A quick look at Ebay has them selling at around $100., give or take. They are older, will probably require updating, and are about the size and weight of a brick. If you can live with that, they are a great value and offer fantastic performance.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:44 pm

My Ram Mount for my Tom Tom... also, testing to see if I have finally gotten the hang of linking to my Flickr photos:

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/luna-p/6420919603/" title="IMG_1350 by Luna-P, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7174/6420 ... 1fe1b9.jpg" width="500" height="375" alt="IMG_1350"></a>

I got a not that fancy Tom Tom 2 or 3 years ago, on clearance. If I turn the volume all the way up, I could hear it even on I-64 on the way to the Orchard in October. I was super excited and impressed.

Haven't had an issue with it, works flawlessly... all I have to do in the rain is put the Tom Tom in a ziploc bag before putting it in the cradle.

Totally worth $30 if you ask me.

jd · Post by jd » Sat Jun 23, 2012 3:46 pm

I just added a Rammount to my Buddy 125 this morning. Installation took five minutes, it is very well made, and it works perfectly.

The company sent the wrong mount to me by accident at first. I called Customer Service. The guy acknowledged the problem, said he would ship the correct unit to me immediately, and told me to just keep the wrong one. The new one came a few days later.

The ultimate test of customer service is to see how a company responds when something goes wrong. It could not have been any better than this, and I cannot recommend the company any more highly (and no, I don't work for them! LOL!)

jd

ThreeSheets · Post by **ThreeSheets** » Sat Jun 23, 2012 6:35 pm

I have been using my standard car Garmin GPS works very nicely with a RAM mount.

gbjbany · Post by **gbjbany** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 1:42 am

Im using. Garmin 1490 with lifetime at $109 from Walmart and i ordered ram months and gps holder off the web Also purchased a dual USB power plug, one or phone one for gps, from Walmart
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Garmin-Nuvi-1 ... d/20549411

I will use a plastic ziplock bag if I rains to go over it all.

Have to point the gps in high sun to get rid of glare but works fine. That's the beauty of the Ram mount

But for 109 vs 500 or whatever the m/ c specific zumo ones are , I' ll live with it

Southerner · Post by **Southerner** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:16 am

I believe there's a Zumo 220 now that runs around $400.

Incidentally, for those who use smartphone GPS, make sure your carrier has good coverage all over your area. I recently used mine to track my route way into the boons where I knew coverage was skippy at best. It let me get all the way to my target destination even though I lost signal. I guess it cached some map info.

When I got ready to leave, it wouldn't work because I had lost data coverage. I guess it didn't retain any map info after I turned GPS off.

This was an Android device on T-Mobile.

If I had to depend on one of these things, I'd either buy the 220 mentioned above or make do with a car GPS in the $150 range.

LunaP · Post by **LunaP** » Sun Jun 24, 2012 2:29 am

My TomTom and RamMount now live on Lokky's Stella, he has even wired a way to charge it... it all still works and hold beautifully

As far as I'm concerned, RamMount is the gospel when it comes to this kind of thing